Ocado Using Solar-powered Refrigerated Units

In a recent development to its long-standing relationship with Marshall Fleet Solutions, Ocado Logistics has now added the Titan system to its refrigerated trailer fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint within its business operations.

In a double first and already on the roads providing the logistics solution for the world’s largest online supermarket, the Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions is fitted to a 4.98m high double deck trailer, combined with an Advancer A400 refrigeration unit. Titan uses power produced from lightweight, high powered solar panels and stores the electrical energy in long life lightweight lithium batteries to provide powered to the refrigeration unit.

“As part of our Ocado’s commitment to sustainability we have a goal to bring our operations to net zero by 2035” says Graham Thomas, Fleet Operations Manager – Truck. “With a fleet including 300 trailers of which 245 are temperature controlled, for some time we have been looking towards alternative solutions to power trailer fridges, at one point looking at developing our own solution. On learning of Titan and the success of other customer trials, it seemed like a viable add on solution, supplied and supported by a known partner.”

Online retailer adds Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions to double deck trailers

The relationship between Ocado and Marshall Fleet Solutions dates back to the early 2000s when Ocado were a fledgling start up, initially primarily as a refrigeration equipment supplier. However, in 2017 Ocado switched the repair and maintenance of its entire Thermo King refrigeration fleet to Marshall Fleet Solutions. This latest addition of Titan systems to the fleet, cements the strong and growing relationship between the two companies.

Available exclusively from Marshall Fleet Solutions, the Titan system’s independent and autonomous design is capable of providing 100% free power to all makes of on-board refrigeration unit, tail lifts and other vehicle mounted electrically powered applications on all vehicles sizes from LCVs, small trucks, to HCVs, both single temp and multi-temp. Available for both new vehicles as well as for retrofitting to existing vehicles, Titan has the ability to convert fleets to reach zero carbon goals overnight.

Graham continues, “Because of the nature of our trunking operation and the temperature regimes we use, there is in theory no reason why diesel can’t be eliminated completely and Titan has the potential to be a key contributor to this goal. In preparation we’re building all our future trailers to be capable of taking Titan as a retrofit.”

“It’s so pleasing to see how the partnership between our two companies is continuing to grow and to see Ocado take a leading position by incorporating Titan into its double deck fleet this year,” said Mark Howell, Managing Director, Marshall Fleet Solutions. “The successful use of solar powered refrigerated trailers within the Ocado operation will have a significantly positive impact towards delivering their sustainability goals and we are delighted to be part of their journey to Net Zero.”

Marshall is an independent UK company with a diverse portfolio of businesses and a shared commitment to keeping our customers moving forward. Whether that’s supporting global armed forces to deliver mission-critical activities, keeping the UK distribution industry on the road, creating new, sustainable communities where people can live and thrive, or developing the next generations of industry talent – we are incredibly proud to have been building extraordinary futures since 1909. Headquartered in Cambridge, we currently employ around 2000 people across locations in the UK, Northern Europe, North America and the UAE.

Ocado Using Solar-powered Refrigerated Units

In a recent development to its long-standing relationship with Marshall Fleet Solutions, Ocado Logistics has now added the Titan system to its refrigerated trailer fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint within its business operations.

In a double first and already on the roads providing the logistics solution for the world’s largest online supermarket, the Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions is fitted to a 4.98m high double deck trailer, combined with an Advancer A400 refrigeration unit. Titan uses power produced from lightweight, high powered solar panels and stores the electrical energy in long life lightweight lithium batteries to provide powered to the refrigeration unit.

“As part of our Ocado’s commitment to sustainability we have a goal to bring our operations to net zero by 2035” says Graham Thomas, Fleet Operations Manager – Truck. “With a fleet including 300 trailers of which 245 are temperature controlled, for some time we have been looking towards alternative solutions to power trailer fridges, at one point looking at developing our own solution. On learning of Titan and the success of other customer trials, it seemed like a viable add on solution, supplied and supported by a known partner.”

Online retailer adds Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions to double deck trailers

The relationship between Ocado and Marshall Fleet Solutions dates back to the early 2000s when Ocado were a fledgling start up, initially primarily as a refrigeration equipment supplier. However, in 2017 Ocado switched the repair and maintenance of its entire Thermo King refrigeration fleet to Marshall Fleet Solutions. This latest addition of Titan systems to the fleet, cements the strong and growing relationship between the two companies.

Available exclusively from Marshall Fleet Solutions, the Titan system’s independent and autonomous design is capable of providing 100% free power to all makes of on-board refrigeration unit, tail lifts and other vehicle mounted electrically powered applications on all vehicles sizes from LCVs, small trucks, to HCVs, both single temp and multi-temp. Available for both new vehicles as well as for retrofitting to existing vehicles, Titan has the ability to convert fleets to reach zero carbon goals overnight.

Graham continues, “Because of the nature of our trunking operation and the temperature regimes we use, there is in theory no reason why diesel can’t be eliminated completely and Titan has the potential to be a key contributor to this goal. In preparation we’re building all our future trailers to be capable of taking Titan as a retrofit.”

“It’s so pleasing to see how the partnership between our two companies is continuing to grow and to see Ocado take a leading position by incorporating Titan into its double deck fleet this year,” said Mark Howell, Managing Director, Marshall Fleet Solutions. “The successful use of solar powered refrigerated trailers within the Ocado operation will have a significantly positive impact towards delivering their sustainability goals and we are delighted to be part of their journey to Net Zero.”

Marshall is an independent UK company with a diverse portfolio of businesses and a shared commitment to keeping our customers moving forward. Whether that’s supporting global armed forces to deliver mission-critical activities, keeping the UK distribution industry on the road, creating new, sustainable communities where people can live and thrive, or developing the next generations of industry talent – we are incredibly proud to have been building extraordinary futures since 1909. Headquartered in Cambridge, we currently employ around 2000 people across locations in the UK, Northern Europe, North America and the UAE.

5000 Grain Transport Containers Digitalized

Nexyst 360, an innovative grain transportation solution provider, has partnered with Nexxiot to digitalize its entire fleet of grain transport containers with zero-maintenance IoT connectivity hardware. This enables real time transport intelligence across the entire journey, with user services made available through Nexyst 360’s software solution – Traceable AG, LLC.

Traceable links farmers, buyers, and retailers/consumers who use Nexyst 360’s ‘smart’ NexBox container to drive higher standards in farm produce transportation and accountability. Nexxiot hardware and software, when combined with the NexBox container and Traceable AG platform, enables improved farm-to-consumer security, efficiency, and provenance monitoring and provides next-level quality assurance.

Nexyst 360 will deploy 5,000 of Nexxiot’s Globehopper IoT gateways and Cargo Monitors (cargo condition monitoring sensors). These devices will enable Nexyst 360’s / Traceable AG customers to benefit from the latest innovations in Asset Intelligence technology, including real time monitoring of location and cargo conditions. Stakeholders receive supply chain insights and customizable alerts around risks and events that require intervention based on real-time data.

Nexyst 360’s unique NexBox container and digital services are made available via the Traceable AG, LLC platform to increase food security and human safety from loading to delivery. By mounting Globehopper gateways to the containers exterior and including Cargo Monitors inside each container, Nexyst 360 makes it possible for its customers to achieve inside-out visibility of assets to optimize food supply chain processes and support the highest standards of food transportation in the world.

“This partnership with Nexxiot is an important milestone for Nexyst 360 and Traceable AG, LLC, as it encompasses the complete digitalization of our transatlantic fleet,” said Robert Ankeny, Operations Manager and Partner at Nexyst 360 and Traceable AG, LLC. “We make it possible for our agricultural customers to maintain a high-quality product from the field to the point of delivery. We are the link between the farmers and the market, and this new capability sets the bar for grain transportation quality by focusing on accountability, transparency and speed,” he said.

These containers covered more than one million miles in the past five months, carrying over 11 million pounds (5 million kg) of grain and food products globally. The digitalization of this fleet is a significant step – supporting a deep commitment to quality control for the benefit of grain producers and consumers.

“We are changing the future of grain transportation and are excited that Nexxiot is able to equip our client’s fleet to ensure visibility throughout the entire shipment journey,” said Kenneth Mannka, Nexxiot’s Executive Vice President of US Operations.

Nexxiot is a TradeTech pioneer for Asset Intelligence with a mission to remove uncertainty and enable easier, safer, and cleaner global transportation. Nexxiot’s trusted integrated technology provides essential operational intelligence and visibility for shipping lines, cargo owners, and railcar operators in the supply chain. Clients and partners such as Hapag-Lloyd and Knorr-Bremse can now monitor their assets in real time from anywhere in the world. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S. with an international team of employees from 30 countries.

5000 Grain Transport Containers Digitalized

Nexyst 360, an innovative grain transportation solution provider, has partnered with Nexxiot to digitalize its entire fleet of grain transport containers with zero-maintenance IoT connectivity hardware. This enables real time transport intelligence across the entire journey, with user services made available through Nexyst 360’s software solution – Traceable AG, LLC.

Traceable links farmers, buyers, and retailers/consumers who use Nexyst 360’s ‘smart’ NexBox container to drive higher standards in farm produce transportation and accountability. Nexxiot hardware and software, when combined with the NexBox container and Traceable AG platform, enables improved farm-to-consumer security, efficiency, and provenance monitoring and provides next-level quality assurance.

Nexyst 360 will deploy 5,000 of Nexxiot’s Globehopper IoT gateways and Cargo Monitors (cargo condition monitoring sensors). These devices will enable Nexyst 360’s / Traceable AG customers to benefit from the latest innovations in Asset Intelligence technology, including real time monitoring of location and cargo conditions. Stakeholders receive supply chain insights and customizable alerts around risks and events that require intervention based on real-time data.

Nexyst 360’s unique NexBox container and digital services are made available via the Traceable AG, LLC platform to increase food security and human safety from loading to delivery. By mounting Globehopper gateways to the containers exterior and including Cargo Monitors inside each container, Nexyst 360 makes it possible for its customers to achieve inside-out visibility of assets to optimize food supply chain processes and support the highest standards of food transportation in the world.

“This partnership with Nexxiot is an important milestone for Nexyst 360 and Traceable AG, LLC, as it encompasses the complete digitalization of our transatlantic fleet,” said Robert Ankeny, Operations Manager and Partner at Nexyst 360 and Traceable AG, LLC. “We make it possible for our agricultural customers to maintain a high-quality product from the field to the point of delivery. We are the link between the farmers and the market, and this new capability sets the bar for grain transportation quality by focusing on accountability, transparency and speed,” he said.

These containers covered more than one million miles in the past five months, carrying over 11 million pounds (5 million kg) of grain and food products globally. The digitalization of this fleet is a significant step – supporting a deep commitment to quality control for the benefit of grain producers and consumers.

“We are changing the future of grain transportation and are excited that Nexxiot is able to equip our client’s fleet to ensure visibility throughout the entire shipment journey,” said Kenneth Mannka, Nexxiot’s Executive Vice President of US Operations.

Nexxiot is a TradeTech pioneer for Asset Intelligence with a mission to remove uncertainty and enable easier, safer, and cleaner global transportation. Nexxiot’s trusted integrated technology provides essential operational intelligence and visibility for shipping lines, cargo owners, and railcar operators in the supply chain. Clients and partners such as Hapag-Lloyd and Knorr-Bremse can now monitor their assets in real time from anywhere in the world. Headquartered in Zurich, Nexxiot operates throughout Europe and the U.S. with an international team of employees from 30 countries.

Global Network Becoming Carbon Neutral

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has switched the energy supply of five more distribution centres in the USA to green electricity from wind and solar energy, aiming to be carbon neutral. Following the warehouse in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, four distribution centres located in Louisville, Kentucky, and one in Valencia, California, now also obtain electricity from renewable sources. This will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an average of around 3,100 metric tons of CO2. This is a further step in the sustainability strategy of the supply chain and e-commerce service provider, which, together with its parent company Bertelsmann, aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

“To enable us to achieve this ambitious goal, all Arvato sites worldwide will be converted to green electricity,” says Mitat Aydindag, President of Arvato North America, explaining the strategy. “It underscores our company’s commitment to environmental protection and the responsible use of natural resources. It’s important to us that our success is measured not only by economic figures, but also by the measures we’ve implemented to build a more sustainable organization.”

In general, however, the supply of “true” green power, i.e. power from renewable sources such as solar and wind, is still very limited in the U.S., and making the switch is sometimes very difficult, depending on the region. That’s why Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky, is working with two local electric utilities, LG&E and East Kentucky Power Cooperative. Both companies offer a green power program that buys “green” energy to offset the electricity consumed on-site. “Because our distribution centres in Louisville are among the first in the U.S., we are especially proud that these sites are now purchasing green electricity to support the expansion of renewable energy in the region,” says Rachael Miller, Site Director for Arvato’s Louisville campus.

The Valencia, California, site, on the other hand, relies on the Clean Power Alliance. Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated not-for-profit electricity provider for 30 cities across Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. Here, the traditional utility provides transmission and distribution of the electricity, while a third party purchases the green power on behalf of program participants. In 2020, 70 percent of the electricity provided came from solar power and 30 percent from wind power. “It’s very encouraging when businesses make the leadership decision to select 100 percent renewable energy as their preferred power option,” said Matthew Langer, Chief Operating Officer at Clean Power Alliance. “When companies like Arvato choose to use renewable energy in their operations, it can help spur demand for more renewables in the market and contribute to the renewable energy transition.”

This view is shared by Stephan Hackert, Vice President and Industry Lead Healthcare U.S. at Arvato: “All of our employees in the U.S. are very proud of this commitment – after all, we are successively sourcing more and more of our country-wide electricity needs from clean, renewable sources.” These kilowatt hours make an important contribution to the targeted climate neutrality. “Having already made a decisive contribution to achieving our climate protection targets with these measures, we will now look at the remaining emissions and consider which measures we can use to compensate for them,” adds Aydindag.

At the beginning of the year, Arvato’s newest location in Las Vegas was officially opened. Following the ambitious decision to become climate-neutral by 2030, Arvato placed a high value on sustainability while designing the warehouse. The logistics centre, for example, was designed with a reflecting roof that absorbs only a small amount of direct sunlight. It effectively prevents the building from overheating, lowering energy usage for air conditioning. The highly efficient LED lighting with connected occupancy sensors deployed throughout the building also contributes to energy savings. Furthermore, the warehouse has around 250 skylights that allow plenty of daylight into the building, thereby reducing the power consumption.

“Sustainability is a continuous improvement effort,” highlights Aydindag. Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has a total of 87 warehouses on five continents with more than 27 million square feet of storage space. In the US, the warehouse network includes a total of 10 locations in Ontario (CA), Valencia (CA), Las Vegas (NV), Pleasant Prairie (WI), Louisville (KY) and Memphis (TN), where comprehensive logistics services are provided to numerous customers in the consumer tech and healthcare industries.

Global Network Becoming Carbon Neutral

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has switched the energy supply of five more distribution centres in the USA to green electricity from wind and solar energy, aiming to be carbon neutral. Following the warehouse in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, four distribution centres located in Louisville, Kentucky, and one in Valencia, California, now also obtain electricity from renewable sources. This will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an average of around 3,100 metric tons of CO2. This is a further step in the sustainability strategy of the supply chain and e-commerce service provider, which, together with its parent company Bertelsmann, aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

“To enable us to achieve this ambitious goal, all Arvato sites worldwide will be converted to green electricity,” says Mitat Aydindag, President of Arvato North America, explaining the strategy. “It underscores our company’s commitment to environmental protection and the responsible use of natural resources. It’s important to us that our success is measured not only by economic figures, but also by the measures we’ve implemented to build a more sustainable organization.”

In general, however, the supply of “true” green power, i.e. power from renewable sources such as solar and wind, is still very limited in the U.S., and making the switch is sometimes very difficult, depending on the region. That’s why Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky, is working with two local electric utilities, LG&E and East Kentucky Power Cooperative. Both companies offer a green power program that buys “green” energy to offset the electricity consumed on-site. “Because our distribution centres in Louisville are among the first in the U.S., we are especially proud that these sites are now purchasing green electricity to support the expansion of renewable energy in the region,” says Rachael Miller, Site Director for Arvato’s Louisville campus.

The Valencia, California, site, on the other hand, relies on the Clean Power Alliance. Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated not-for-profit electricity provider for 30 cities across Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. Here, the traditional utility provides transmission and distribution of the electricity, while a third party purchases the green power on behalf of program participants. In 2020, 70 percent of the electricity provided came from solar power and 30 percent from wind power. “It’s very encouraging when businesses make the leadership decision to select 100 percent renewable energy as their preferred power option,” said Matthew Langer, Chief Operating Officer at Clean Power Alliance. “When companies like Arvato choose to use renewable energy in their operations, it can help spur demand for more renewables in the market and contribute to the renewable energy transition.”

This view is shared by Stephan Hackert, Vice President and Industry Lead Healthcare U.S. at Arvato: “All of our employees in the U.S. are very proud of this commitment – after all, we are successively sourcing more and more of our country-wide electricity needs from clean, renewable sources.” These kilowatt hours make an important contribution to the targeted climate neutrality. “Having already made a decisive contribution to achieving our climate protection targets with these measures, we will now look at the remaining emissions and consider which measures we can use to compensate for them,” adds Aydindag.

At the beginning of the year, Arvato’s newest location in Las Vegas was officially opened. Following the ambitious decision to become climate-neutral by 2030, Arvato placed a high value on sustainability while designing the warehouse. The logistics centre, for example, was designed with a reflecting roof that absorbs only a small amount of direct sunlight. It effectively prevents the building from overheating, lowering energy usage for air conditioning. The highly efficient LED lighting with connected occupancy sensors deployed throughout the building also contributes to energy savings. Furthermore, the warehouse has around 250 skylights that allow plenty of daylight into the building, thereby reducing the power consumption.

“Sustainability is a continuous improvement effort,” highlights Aydindag. Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has a total of 87 warehouses on five continents with more than 27 million square feet of storage space. In the US, the warehouse network includes a total of 10 locations in Ontario (CA), Valencia (CA), Las Vegas (NV), Pleasant Prairie (WI), Louisville (KY) and Memphis (TN), where comprehensive logistics services are provided to numerous customers in the consumer tech and healthcare industries.

Technology Empowering Logistics Workforce

Technology in logistics can be a powerful tool to empower your team and enhance the logistics sector workforce. Logistics software supplier CartonCloud are known for creating systems that empower and cater to the needs of small-medium-sized logistics companies. In this article, the software leaders look at what humans can do while aided by technology.

“We’re interested in exploring how the logistics workforce can be empowered to achieve more, by the use of emerging technology and innovative solutions,” said CartonCloud CEO and Founder Vincent Fletcher. “We’re seeing a number of new technologies emerge that are increasing safety and workforce enjoyment, and opening up new opportunities to engage a wider workforce in logistics roles.”

Fletcher says the innovation is already there, it’s how the sector uses it that matters most. “Logistics providers are already using technology and software solutions to focus on optimization. They are streamlining workflows and processes, and simplifying tasks at hand, in order to get more out of every dollar and resource they have. The industry is being pushed to deliver faster shipment timeframes and more flexible order and delivery options, and this means all logistics operators must be working smarter to find efficiencies – including smaller companies who may not have the financial clout to cover massive upfront costs for solutions.”

Small-medium sized operators make up a majority of the supply chain across North America. “We need to ensure that these smaller players have access to the tools they need to stay competitive,” said CartonCloud Head of North America/COO Shaun Hagen. “It comes down to the suitability of the software for their needs, and how quickly and easily they can have the system up and running, to start seeing the benefits. First and foremost, they need solutions that are easy to use and implement – there’s no point having the highest tech if it’s too difficult to train their staff on. Next, it has to give them flexibility and to allow them to scale according to opportunities and demand as the market shifts. And finally, it needs to provide a range of seamless and flexible integration options that allow them to connect with their customers and industry partners as they need.”

Technical innovation in logistics is not about replacing humans – it’s about empowering your workforce to do more.

“Robotics, automation, and software can remove the need for certain manual tasks, and increase workforce output and productivity,” adds Fletcher. “The right tools and solutions can even reduce risk for humans working in high-risk conditions like high or low temperatures, physically demanding roles, or working with heavy machinery. There’s a huge opportunity for smaller players to access the solutions as a plug-and-play service, once they already have their business online – and that’s where we come in.”

CartonCloud’s warehouse and transport management software is designed specifically for SMB logistics operators, with user-centred design and features created specifically for the industry.
The software, often referred to as ‘mission-critical’, removes tedious and time-consuming tasks, boosts scalability, and increases efficiency.

“Our software is designed by logistics people, for logistics people, with every design feature, functionality and update created to make the lives of logistics people easier – while allowing them to grow their business,” concludes Fletcher.

With greater access to logistics technology and automation and human-centric technology, Fletcher and his team believe the world of work within logistics will evolve, offering new roles that are aided by machinery and technology, and creating new opportunities for others to build new solutions within the network.

 

Technology Empowering Logistics Workforce

Technology in logistics can be a powerful tool to empower your team and enhance the logistics sector workforce. Logistics software supplier CartonCloud are known for creating systems that empower and cater to the needs of small-medium-sized logistics companies. In this article, the software leaders look at what humans can do while aided by technology.

“We’re interested in exploring how the logistics workforce can be empowered to achieve more, by the use of emerging technology and innovative solutions,” said CartonCloud CEO and Founder Vincent Fletcher. “We’re seeing a number of new technologies emerge that are increasing safety and workforce enjoyment, and opening up new opportunities to engage a wider workforce in logistics roles.”

Fletcher says the innovation is already there, it’s how the sector uses it that matters most. “Logistics providers are already using technology and software solutions to focus on optimization. They are streamlining workflows and processes, and simplifying tasks at hand, in order to get more out of every dollar and resource they have. The industry is being pushed to deliver faster shipment timeframes and more flexible order and delivery options, and this means all logistics operators must be working smarter to find efficiencies – including smaller companies who may not have the financial clout to cover massive upfront costs for solutions.”

Small-medium sized operators make up a majority of the supply chain across North America. “We need to ensure that these smaller players have access to the tools they need to stay competitive,” said CartonCloud Head of North America/COO Shaun Hagen. “It comes down to the suitability of the software for their needs, and how quickly and easily they can have the system up and running, to start seeing the benefits. First and foremost, they need solutions that are easy to use and implement – there’s no point having the highest tech if it’s too difficult to train their staff on. Next, it has to give them flexibility and to allow them to scale according to opportunities and demand as the market shifts. And finally, it needs to provide a range of seamless and flexible integration options that allow them to connect with their customers and industry partners as they need.”

Technical innovation in logistics is not about replacing humans – it’s about empowering your workforce to do more.

“Robotics, automation, and software can remove the need for certain manual tasks, and increase workforce output and productivity,” adds Fletcher. “The right tools and solutions can even reduce risk for humans working in high-risk conditions like high or low temperatures, physically demanding roles, or working with heavy machinery. There’s a huge opportunity for smaller players to access the solutions as a plug-and-play service, once they already have their business online – and that’s where we come in.”

CartonCloud’s warehouse and transport management software is designed specifically for SMB logistics operators, with user-centred design and features created specifically for the industry.
The software, often referred to as ‘mission-critical’, removes tedious and time-consuming tasks, boosts scalability, and increases efficiency.

“Our software is designed by logistics people, for logistics people, with every design feature, functionality and update created to make the lives of logistics people easier – while allowing them to grow their business,” concludes Fletcher.

With greater access to logistics technology and automation and human-centric technology, Fletcher and his team believe the world of work within logistics will evolve, offering new roles that are aided by machinery and technology, and creating new opportunities for others to build new solutions within the network.

 

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